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Cottenham

Digging test pits is a method of sampling the archaeology of an area. Our sampling was random in that the pits were not selected for their location. We accepted all offers made to us that weekend.

The pits are just one metre square and are dug and recorded systematically until the ‘natural’ soil, undisturbed by human activity, is reached, or to a maximum depth of 1.2 metres. Taking it deeper than that would not be safe without widening the pit. The natural soil was reached within that limit in our pits.

The first project the Group undertook was the excavation of a number of test pits in gardens in Cottenham. We identified householders who wanted, over the weekend of 16th and 17th May 2009, to dig a test pit in their garden, or who were happy to allow others to do so.